Stone Kingdom in Baguio City spared from quake

Some centuries-old churches and bell towers in Luzon did not survive the powerful 7-magnitude earthquake that struck Abra and nearby provinces on Wednesday morning, July 27, 2022.

Even the popular Vigan Cathedral in Ilocos Sur which is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site and the famous Bantay Bell Tower were damaged.

Baguio City’s Igorot Stone Kingdom, which stands on a 6,000 square meter area, however, remained “intact and unaffected,” according to the owner Pio Velasco.

“No damage, not a single crack on the structures and on the groundworks. A proof of the reliability of the Igorot way of Stone laying,” stated Velasco in his social media post.

Velasco believes ‘the traditional Igorot way of building stonewalls or Kabite in local dialect is in communication with the natural properties and contours of the ground. It is a system closer to nature.’

Temporary Closure

Though left undamaged, the owner announced that the Igorot-themed Park is temporarily closed until further notice.

This is in response to the mayor’s directive to ensure public safety.

Relaying its history, Velasco said he once encountered a white carabao back in 2020 which he took as a sign to build the structure.

The Igorot Stone Kingdom, he earlier described, showcases the rock-laying skills of Igorots as well as their culture, values, and tradition.

The park situated on a mountainside along Long-long Road, Pinsao Proper is among the main attraction in the Summer Capital of the Philippines.

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